Youth Group

Recently, a random conversation with a couple of staff guys caused me to think back to my days as a teenager and my high school youth group.  I really  participated in two youth groups.  My first youth group was at the church where I grew up in, in Tulsa, OK, and the second youth group was at the church I attended for a little over a year when we moved to Houston, TX.  Both were great experiences for me.  But in reflecting back on those days, I couldn’t help but think of how much things have changed.

I never went to youth group with anyone who went to the same high school as me.  In Tulsa, we drove all the way across town to go to church because of a long family connection.  In Houston, I didn’t live in the same school district where the church was located, so none of my “friends” went to my youth group.  Not only that, but I didn’t really share anything in common with any of the kids in the youth groups.  When I was in high school, I played football and basketball.  My first summer job was working at an indoor tennis facility.  I was pretty heavily involved in all things sports (that was before that kind of involvement kept you out of church).  The rest of the kids in both of my youth groups were pretty much the original “Geek Squad.”  There were no athletes in my youth groups and, honestly, no one that would have been in the “popular” crowd (whatever that means) in their school.  I never had a young or “cool” Youth Minister.  In my Tulsa church, our Youth Minister had kids older than me, and in my Houston church there was no Youth Minister.  There were no special facilities, no big budgets…nothing. 

Now, that doesn’t sound very appealing, but the truth is, my time and commitment with both of those youth groups were some of the most enriching experiences of my life…certainly my spiritual life.  To this day I continue to have a connection to kids I went to youth group with, as well as some of the sponsors who gave their time to teach and to lead.  But it wasn’t just good for me.  Looking back through the lenses of time and maturity, I can see how my participation was beneficial for others.  I’m hesitant to write that because I don’t want it to sound too self-important, but I know from personal conversations with others that God was able to use me as a witness and example and leader to others. 

What is so sad and disheartening for me today is the reality that many teenagers don’t even participate in church youth group (we call it Student Ministry today).  And if they do, it’s often a classic “consumer-driven” choice or it’s not even a church at all.  I’ve heard all the reasons why over and over again (friends – youth ministers/leaders – time – schedule – popular kids – etc.).  Here’s my response – observation – question – whatever you want to call it.  And I’m not writing this for the purpose of offending or accusing, I’m just expressing my thoughts and experiences (isn’t that what a blog is for?) and I’m asking you to take a minute to think about what I’m writing.  We live in a day and age where everything is measured by how much we get out of it.  That’s the reality of the world.  Shouldn’t the church and our participation…our commitment to it be different?  Shouldn’t the church, which includes the youth group (student ministry), be measured by how much of ourselves we put into it for God?  Isn’t this something that we should be passing on to our children? 

Over the past thirty-plus years, I’ve seen youth programs that were driven by big personalities and by big events.  They’re impressive…there’s no question about that.  But I’ve also seen that when that particular personality is gone or the big events end, there’s a noticeable drop-off in participation.  When Jesus fed hungry people, he had thousands of them pursuing him.  A little later when he began to tell them what it cost to be his disciple, many of them said, “This is a hard teaching.  Who can accept it?”  (John 6:60).  Then the inevitable happened.  “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him”  (John 6:66).

I didn’t go to the youth group with the dynamic youth minister, or with my friends, or even with the kids that I wished were my friends.  Sometimes we rode in an old broken down church bus to a “rustic” church camp or a pizza parlor (which was a big night out in the 1970s).  I saw “Jaws” with Ginger Braun and Deena McCollum, girls I knew from youth group…girls I would never have been friends with in any other setting…girls who became great friends.  I played church league basketball with guys who were terrible basketball players (that meant I got to take a lot of shots).  We had Bible studies, swim parties, youth services, and on and on.  And as lame as those things may sound, I know my life wouldn’t have been the same without them.

Jesus cares,

Pastor Chris

The Solomon Foundation

I want to take a minute to tell you about my personal involvement and our church’s partnership with a new ministry called The Solomon Foundation (TSF).  The Solomon Foundation is based in Englewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.  In December 2010, I was invited to join some other leaders of Independent Christian Church mega-churches for a meeting to talk about the beginning of a new church extension fund.  From that time on, God opened doors for my involvement on the Board of Directors of this new extension fund, as well as our church’s involvement as a strategic partner. 

Check out the website for The Solomon Foundation: www.thesolomonfoundation.org

The Solomon Foundation exists to provide financing for churches to help them grow to the next level in their ministry, thanks to the many individuals and churches that invest in one or more of TSF’s savings and investment plans.

What do you need to know about The Solomon Foundation? 

-       TSF began with and will always have the oversight and accountability of two of the most dynamic churches in our “brotherhood” of churches (Crossroads Christian Church in Grand Prairie, TX, and Christ’s Church of the Valley in Peoria, AZ).

-       TSF is committed to core values that are simple, biblical, and inspirational: (1) Honor God, (2) Help people come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, (3) Help investors get a great return on their investments, (4) Help churches get to the next level in their ministry, and (5) Have fun!

-       TSF has a board that consists of some of the most trusted and respected Christian leaders in America.  The board is a unique blend of some of the top pastors in America, along with other gifted leaders with ministry, finance, and business experience.  Check out these board members at www.thesolomonfoundation.org/board-of-directors.htm

-       TSF is committed to providing financing to churches to help them grow and move to the next level in their ministry.  TSF will only make loans to churches and will not make loans to any church that has not submitted a written plan for paying off the loan as expeditiously as possible.

-       TSF offers savings and investment rates that are beyond competitive with other financial organizations.  TSF is actually an industry leader.  Check out the current rates at www.thesolomonfoundation.org/rates.htm

-       TSF has a vision to partner with Christ in building the kingdom of God by helping churches get financing to purchase land and build facilities so that more people can come to know Jesus Christ.

I want you to know that I consider it a great privilege to be a member of the Board of Directors of The Solomon Foundation.  And I’m thankful that our church is a strategic partner of a ministry committed to excellent interest and eternal impact.

Jesus cares,

Pastor Chris 

Rest

Today is my first day back in the office after my summer break.  It’s interesting that my daily devotion was taken from Matthew 11:28-30, where Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”  (NIV)  When I read those familiar words that begin that passage, it struck me how, as a Christian, my “rest” doesn’t have to come from time away from my role and responsibilities. My “rest” comes from my faith in and dependence on Jesus, no matter where I am or what I’m doing. 

I got some rest while I was on my break (and I’m defining rest as more than simple sleep).  But I also had some times of restlessness.  My restlessness could always be traced to things like worry, a lack of trust, and self-imposed pressure.  I worried that our church attendance and offerings would suffer in my absence.  I had a certain lack of trust related to things that people needed to get done while I was away.  And I spent an entire evening feeling unhappy about an even par round of golf because all I could think about was the three short putts I missed and what might have been (my golf game is heavy with self-imposed pressure). 

Rest can be an elusive thing.  Even as I’m typing these words, I’m thinking about two ministry trips I have on my calendar for August, a new sermon series that will begin in September, different ways I can help my staff be more productive, and on and on.    

Where do you go for rest?  If I understand my Bible, the answer is simple: we go to Jesus…we give him all of our worries, all of our doubts, and all of our pressure, and we trust Him.  We trust His presence in our lives to be the only provision we need. 

Summer breaks, vacations, sabbaticals, whatever you want to call them, are great.  I’m very thankful that the church gives me this opportunity each summer.  But I need to remember that genuine “rest” comes from living in the presence and provision of Jesus, and that’s something that can happen every day.

Jesus cares,

Pastor Chris